Computerworld Forecast Identifies 11 Must-Have IT Skills

After months of staff cuts or hiring freezes, many US companies are planning to hire IT employees with highly valued skills. According to the annual Computerworld forecast, the percentage of respondents who said they plan to increase staff size in the next 12 months increased slightly, from 20 percent in last year's survey to 23 percent this year.

"We're talking about hiring. It's happening now," says Dave Willmer, executive director of IT staffing services firm Robert Half Technology and a Computerworld.com columnist. "Companies that cut staff or implemented hiring freezes are realizing they need employees now to help upgrade IT systems and prepare their firms for potential growth."

Computerworld's survey uncovered these 11 must-have IT skills: 

1. Programming and Application Development

2. Project Management

3. Help Desk/Technical Support

4. Networking

5. Security

6. Data Center

7. Web 2.0

8. Telecommunications

9. Business Intelligence

10. Collaboration Architecture

11. Business Acumen & Communication Skills

For more on these trends and must-have skills see the story on CIO.com.